8/20/14

Author Jewell Parker Rhodes will be coming to Kidlitcon 2014! I am so excited--I loved her magical realism/ghost story Ninth Ward lots, so much so that I enthusiastically helped shortlist it for the Cybils Awards* the year it came out (2012) (here's my review). And her 2013 book for young readers, Sugar, is great too.

Here's a peak at her session, where she'll be joining two great bloggers:

"While gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity,
religion, or ability add to who we are, they do not define who we are. And
these differences do not define our stories. How do we teach, discuss, or
describe diverse books without making diversity the issue? Should we? How do we
respond to the perception that ʺdiverse booksʺ are only for ʺdiverse peopleʺ
and deliver book reviews and essays that highlight what makes books universal
for those disinclined to think diversity is for them while acknowledging
readers who need and deserve to find themselves in literature? Presenters Edith
Campbell, Hannah Gómez, and author Jewell Parker Rhodes will deliver an
interactive session with talking points, booktalks, strategies and much honest
discussion."

And that is just one of the great sessions at this year's Kidlitcon; I'm putting the final touches on the program, and should have it all done (d.v.) on Monday! Please join us in Sacramento, CA October 10th and 11th for a really fantastic time of talking blogging and books and diversity non-stop!

*and speaking of Cybils, now is the time to sign up to be a panelist for the 2014 season!